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See where past U.S. Presidents slept

The spotlight may be focused on newest resident of the White House, but there’s much that can be learned about history, politics and culture from visiting the cabins, homes and mansions where former presidents were born or lived.

Below you’ll find a half-dozen former presidents’ homes that are open to the public and a link to dozens more. The National Park Service manages many of these. Others are operated by non-profits. But each has a story to tell.

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1. George Washington

What you’ll see: No doubt about it: George Washington really slept in this 21-room mansion that he dramatically expanded and improved during his life. Visitors can tour the mansion, various outbuildings, the gardens, a museum and the grounds and farm areas, then pay respects at the slave memorial and burial grounds and the tomb containing the remains of Washington, his wife, Martha, and other family members. Admission includes access to fully functioning reconstructions of Washington’s gristmill and distillery, about 3 miles from the Mount Vernon estate entrance.

What you’ll see: The drafter of the Declaration of Independence had great ideas for his mountaintop home too. Tours are offered through the main house, the slave quarters, the gardens, the grounds and a variety of original and reconstructed buildings. A large bronze-relief model offers an overview of the 5,000-acre Monticello plantation and there’s a visitor center with four themed get-to-know Jefferson exhibitions.

Don’t Miss: Jefferson’s “cabinet” or office, featuring a revolving chair, a table with revolving top, a revolving bookcase and a variety of scientific instruments.

Nearby: 5 miles from Monticello, learn more about Thomas Jefferson on a historical tour of the University of Virginia, which Jefferson founded.

Operating seasons: homes only open from spring to fall but the visitor center/grounds open year-round.

What you’ll see: Birthplace homes of John Adams (2nd U.S. president) and his son John Quincy (6th U.S. president), the home (Peacefield) that served four generation of the Adams family, and the adjacent stone library.

Don’t miss: In addition to more than 12,000 volumes that belonged to the Adams family, the library is home to John Adams’ original law desk.

What you’ll see: Guided tours of the 25-room home - and the porch Garfield (the 20th U.S. president) famously campaigned from - are offered. A short film and exhibits about Garfield’s life are in the Visitor Center.

Don’t miss: About 85 percent of the artifacts on view are original to the house, including Garfield’s 1600-volume book collection in the library.

Nearby: James Garfield’s casket (and that of his wife, Lucretia) can be seen inside the elaborate, 180-foot-tall Garfield Monument at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, 20 miles from Mentor.

Operating seasons: open all year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Currently the Texas White House is closed but you can still tour the LBJ Boyhood home, Johnson Settlement and the LBJ Ranch.

What you’ll see: Johnson’s boyhood home; the Johnson family Settlement cabin and a Visitor Center with a Johnson-life timeline and memorabilia-filled exhibits. The LBJ Ranch, 14 miles away, in Stonewall, is the site of the birthplace home Johnson had reconstructed and refurbished, the Johnson family cemetery, and the ranch house that became known as the Texas White House.

Don’t miss: One of Johnson’s favorite gifts sits in a chair in his ranch house office: an embroidered pillow that says “This is my ranch. I do as I damn please.”

Don’t miss: The presidential helicopter. Army One (called Marine One when Marine pilots were on duty), was used by several presidents, including Nixon, who resigned on August 9, 1974, boarded Army One on the south lawn of the White House and left for a new life at his private home in California.

Nearby: Disneyland is 10 miles away.

For a much longer list of national historic sites, monuments, memorial and parks that preserve the places former presidents were born and/or lived see this list put together by the National Park Service.

- Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas writes about airports, air travel, museums and other destinations for USA TODAY, NBC News, CNBC and her blog, StuckatTheAirport.com. Follow her on twitter at @hbaskas.

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